Apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for forming sheet material in order to obtain containers comprises conveying means arranged for advancing the sheet material, a welding unit arranged for welding the sheet material along peripheral edges of the containers to be formed, a forming unit arranged for forming the sheet material in order to obtain the containers, at least one of said units being mounted on guiding means so that it is possible to adjust the longitudinal position of the at least one unit with respect to the other unit(s).

The invention relates to an apparatus for forming sheet material inorder to obtain containers.

The Prior Art comprises thermoforming machines for sheet materialcomprising a conveying device arranged for the stepwise advancing of thesheet material through a welding unit, wherein a pair of films, orfacing strips of the same film, are mutually welded along peripheraledges defining pre-forms of containers to be obtained.

The peripheral welding achieved in the welding unit is interrupted in aportion of the peripheral edge, at which an opening is located and whichis arranged for allowing the introduction of a product with which thecontainers have to be formed and/or filled.

The known apparatus further comprises, downstream of the welding unit, athermoforming unit, wherein the films are heated.

Subsequently, a pressurised fluid is injected, through the said opening,into each of the pre-forms in order to bring the films into contact withmoulds which are provided to mould the said films.

Upstream of the welding unit, the known machines may comprise heatingunits arranged for heating the films in order to prepare them for thesubsequent steps of welding and forming.

Forming machines for using sheet material in order to obtain containersand containers for suppositories, made by forming films of aluminium,are also known which comprise a forming unit, wherein the films areplastically deformed by means of mechanical forming means, for exampleby deep-drawing, in order to obtain half-shells defining one half of acontainer.

Such machines further comprise, downstream to the forming unit, awelding unit wherein a first film, where a plurality of firsthalf-shells has been produced, is welded with a second film, where aplurality of second half-shells has been produced.

The first film and the second film are welded together along aperipheral profile identifying the edge of the containers. Theperipheral welding is interruped in the area of an opening which enablesthe introduction of a product, during a subsequent filling step, intothe interior of the formed containers.

A disadvantage of the above described machines, is that, the weldingunit, the forming unit and the heating unit, when present, are placed atpre-established positions on the frame of the machine, and are notadjustable relative to each other.

A mould suitable for welding or forming a pre-established number ofcontainers is associated with each of said units, the mould having acertain length defined by the number and the size of the containers itis designed to produce at every advancing step of the sheet material.

In a situation where it is necessary to vary the size of the containersto be produced, it can arise that, with the same size mould, the numberof containers that may be produced at each advancing step is such thatit leaves unformed portions of the film which causes a decrease inefficiency of the machine due to a significant waste of material.

Furthermore, in the known machines, each of the moulds consists of apair of half-moulds reciprocally moving towards and away from eachother.

A first half-mould is mounted on a supporting elemen fixed firmly to theframe of the machine, while the second half-mould is connected to amobile supporting element that brings the second half-mould to interactwith the first half-mould in order to produce the welding, or forming,of the films and moves the second half-mould away from the firsthalf-mould once the forming, or welding, has taken place.

The mobile supporting element is driven to slide on guiding bars by anactuating device, for example a pneumatic cylinder, fixed to the frameof the machine.

Therefore, another disadvantage of the known machines is that, the frameof the machine is subjected to significant stresses that may compromiseits strength structurally.

A further defect is that, in the known machines each of the half-mouldsis fixed to their respective supporting elements, so that thehalf-moulds may be removed from the supporting elements only after along and complicated disassembly operation. In the case where thehalf-moulds have to be changed, for example where it is necessary tochange from production of containers of a certain size to containers ofa different size, the machine needs to be stopped for a long period oftime which significantly penalises its productivity.

For the reasons mentioned above, it is very difficult to perform checksand controls of the half-moulds of the Prior Art machines.

The conveying devices that achieve the stepwise advancing of the sheetmaterial in the machines of the Prior Art comprise grabbing elementsarranged for grabbing end regions of the sheet material, in order toproduce the transferring.

The grabbing elements are moving with reciprocating rectilinear motionin the direction along which the sheet material must be advanced.

Such grabbing elements may assume an opened resting configuration inwhich the jaws, with which they are provided, do not interfere with thesheet material and a closed operating configuration in which the jawsared tightened onto the sheet material.

The number of grabbing elements provided is pre-determfined and cannotbe modified. In addition, they may be located only in pre-establishedregions of the apparatus, for example, upstream of the welding unit anddownstream of the forming unit, in thermoforming machines.

The known machines, therefore, have the further disadvantage ofproviding grabbing elements which are not suitable for modification inrelation to their number and position with respect to the properties ofthe sheet material to be worked on.

In particular, the grabbing elements of the Prior Art machines are notbe suitable for properly supporting a particularly flexible sheetmaterial, nor are they provided with a very wide range of transverseextension.

The machines for producing suppositories, by forming films of aluminium,comprise, in the deep-drawing unit previously described, deforming meansarranged for receiving the product constituting the suppository andproducing a plurality of transversal folds in the films before thedeep-drawing, by way of which the cavity is obtained. Such folds consistof excess material used for forming the cavities; in fact, without suchexcess material, the films of aluminium, which do not tolerate highlyelastic deformations, could tear or be damaged during deep-drawing.

The material constituting the folds, however, is not withdrawn along thetotal transverse extent of the films, but only at its central portion,i.e. in that region where the cavities are formed.

As a consequence, end portions of the folds remain in the band formed bythe welded films, after the containers have been formed, such endportions forming appendages.

These appendages, which would result in the containers beinguncomfortable at the moment of the usage, are subsequently pressed, sothat they are smoothed, and that their encumbrance is minimised.

The band of sheet material is then subjected to incision, performed by acutting device by means of which weakening lines are produced, alongwhich the containers may be separated from each other.

A still further disadvantage of the known machines is that, when theband is subjected to incision, the cutting device interacts with theappendages to produce a large amount of fragments of aluminium which arepotentially dangerous, since they may injure a user.

The above-mentioned folds may have different depths, depending upon theamount of material needed for producing the cavity and, thus, upon thedimension of the cavity to be formed.

In order to vary the depth of the folds, it is necessary to adjust thestroke of the deforming means.

The deforming means is actuated by means of cam device to producereciprocating rectilinear motion.

Another disadvantage of the known machines is that the stroke of thedeforming means is remarkably difficult to adjust.

In fact, in order to vary the amount of the stroke of the deformingmeans inside their respective seats, it is necessary to substitute thecams of the cam devices with further cams having a different strokeprofile.

The known machines may further comprise, downstream of the filling unit,a transferring unit for the filled containers. Such transferring unit,in the machines for producing containers for suppositories, advances theformed and filled containers through a cooling unit wherein the productconstituting the suppository passes from a fluid state into a solidstate.

The transferring unit may comprise a plurality of guiding walls whichdefine tracks along which the sheet material, constituting a band inwhich the containers have been formed, is advanced by means of a chainupon which the band is supported.

The chain is positioned on the bottom of the tracks and moved by asuitable motor device.

Associated with a certain number of links of the chain are pegs whichprotrude from the links toward an internal region of the trackscontaining the chain, such pegs interacting with the band, in particularwith the appendages, when present.

Still a further disadvantage of the known machines is that dragging ofthe band owing to the interaction between pegs, arranged on the chain atpre-established distances, and to the appendages being partially pressedand therefore having a wide variety of dimensions results in poorcontrol.

The coupling between a peg and a respective appendage takes place,therefore, in a substantially casual manner, such that in order toreasonably make sure that a certain number of pegs engage with acorresponding number of appendages cause transferring of the band, alarge amount of pegs have to be provided.

This results in the risk that the band could slide on the chain, thusresulting in the risk of breakage.

The known machines are further provided with a cutting unit, wherein,once the containers have been formed, filled and sealed, the band formedby them is subdivided in a plurality of sections, each of themcomprising a pre-established number of containers.

As described above, the known machines comprise, upstream to the cuttingunit, an incision unit wherein the band is incised, in the regionsinterposed between one container and another, so as to obtain weakeninglines, by tearing along which a container may be separated from theremaining containers constituting the section.

A further disadvantage of the known machines is that the separatingmeans, with which the cutting unit is provided, interacts with the bandin the area of one of the incision lines producing a “cut-on-cut”effect. Such operation produces a high amount of swarf consisting ofsmall particles of the sheet material, such swarf being potentiallydangerous when not properly removed.

The removal of the swarf requires dedicated apparatus, contributing tocomplexity of the production and use of the known machines.

The cutting unit further comprises a collecting device arranged forreceiving the sections of containers, producing stacks consisting of apre-established number of superimposed containers and delivering thesaid stacks to a packaging device arranged further downstream.

A still further disadvantage of the machines of the Prior Art is that,in the case of containers having a portion substantially shaped like atruncated cone, as in the case of containers for suppositories, thestacks are formed by sections whose containers are arranged in a“fanlike” manner, i.e. with the larger base portions of the truncatedcones in mutual contact. Such a “fanlike” disposition is an awkward onein relation to the that stacks produced which are of poor stability andgenerate an undesired amount of encumbrance in the stacks.

The incision unit comprises incision means provided with a certainnumber of knives, the number of knives being equal to the number ofcontainers that must be contained in any section, less one.

A still further disadvantage of the known machines is a low flexibilityof the incision unit.

In fact, in the case where it is desired to change from the productionof sections comprising a certain number of containers to the productionof sections comprising a different number of containers, it is necessaryto change the incision means with further incision means provided with asuitable number of knives.

A purpose of the present invention is to improve the forming apparatusfor obtaining containers of sheet material.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising a plurality of operating units arranged for formingcontainers, characterised in that at least one operating unit is somounted on a guide arrangement that it is possible to adjust thelongitudinal position of said at least one operating unit with respectto adjacent operating unit(s).

Preferably, adjusting means are provided and arranged for moving the atleast one operating unit along the guiding means.

In an advantageous version, the adjusting means comprises a threaded rodwhich enables an accurate adjustment of the position of the at least oneoperating arrangement.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to use, in eachunit, moulds having a longitudinal extension such as to contain an exactnumber of containers of a certain size; and thus minimise the amount ofmaterial used, in particular reduce the wastage of non-deformedmaterial.

The possibility of moving the units closer or further away enables thecorrect positioning of the moulds so that there is no interferencebetween moulds of adjacent units.

The use of guides along which the units may be translated enables, inaddition, the achievement of changes of format without compromising theefficiency of the machine.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged foroperatively interacting with sheet material and for forming containersfrom said sheet material, characterised in that said operating unit isprovided with mould portions driven translatingly by a mechanicalactuator for moving the mould portions towards and away from each otherin order to clamp and release, respectively, said sheet material.

In an advantageous version, the mechanical actuating arrangementcomprises a motor, preferably a brushless motor, driving a screwengaging in a female screw that controls the translation of the mouldportions.

The female screw is firmly connected to a plate, to which a first rod isfixed that controls a first supporting plate to which a first portion ofthe mould is fixed; and to which a second rod is fixed that controls asecond plate to which a second portion of the mould is fixed.

The first and second portions of the mould are guided during thetranslation motion that brings them together and moves them apart bycolumns slidingly mounted on a frame of the same apparatus.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain anapparatus for forming material that is provided with a frame that is notsubjected to substantial stresses transmitted by the moving device ofthe portions of the mould.

During the welding and forming steps of the material, the first portionof the mould moves toward the second portion of the mould and interactswith the second portion of the mould so that only portions of themechanical actuating arrangement are subjected to stresses, not portionsof the frame.

In addition, the mechanical actuating means may tighten the portions ofthe mould with high pressures since the risk of structural failuressubstantially eliminated, since the mechanical actuating means, and inparticular the screw, the rods and bars, are not subjected to bendingstrengths, only to tensile and compressive strengths.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged foroperatively interacting with sheet material in order to obtaincontainers from said sheet material, characterised in that saidoperating unit is provided with a mould portion connected with a supports by means of a hinge.

Advantageously, the hinge comprises a spherical joint.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, said at least one portion of themould may be rotated from an operating contact position with the sheetmaterial, to a substantially horizontal rest position, wherein it ispossible for an operator to intervene on the at least one portion of themould in order to inspect it and/or to provide maintain it or in orderto change it.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is providedapparatus comprising a conveying arrangement for advancing sheetmaterial, and at least one operating unit arranged for formingcontainers from said sheet material, characterised in that saidconveying arrangement comprises a movable supporting arrangement withwhich a grabbing arrangement for said sheet material is associated.

In an advantageous version, the supporting arrangement is driven withreciprocating rectilinear motion by slides on guides fixed to a frame ofthe apparatus.

In a further advantageous version, the supporting arrangement extendsthrough the at least one operating unit.

Since the at least one operating unit may be provided with mould meansfixed to mould-holding means arranged for the translation of the mouldmeans by mutually moving the mould means together and apart, thesupporting arrangement may be arranged between facing portions of themould-holding means in the region of the mould-holding means that arenot concerned with the mould means.

In a further advantageous version, the grabbing arrangement comprises aplurality of individual grabbing units, each individual unitadvantageously comprising pneumatically driven jaw means.

Therefore, it is possible to place each individual grabbing unit in anysuitable position along the supporting arrangement, in particular in theregions of the sheet material that remain undeformed during forming ofthe containers. Thus, when the apparatus is prepared, in order to changefrom forming a certain type of containers to forming containers ofdifferent shape and/or capacity, the grabbing arrangement may be locatedin the regions of the sheet material that will not have to be deformedby simply moving the grabbing arrangement along the supportingarrangement to the more suitable positions.

It is further possible to position the grabbing arrangement so asproperly to support sheet material of different types and sizes.

Furthermore, it is possible to select the number of grabbing units to beassociated with the supporting arrangement according to the propertiesof the sheet material used. This prevents the sheet material fromarranging itself so as to define curved surfaces, the positive result ofthe operations of welding and/or forming.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising a transporting chain arranged for transportingsheet material by acting on regions near its border by an interceptingarrangement, characterised in that said intercepting arrangementcomprises a pinching arrangement.

In an advantageous version, the pinching arrangement is fixed to linksof the chain.

In another advantageous version, the pinching arrangement comprises apair of jaws mutually hinged for turning around an axis between a restposition wherein the pinching arrangement is open and not interactingwith the sheet material and an operating position wherein the pinchingarrangement is closed to grab the sheet material.

In another advantageous version, a first jaw of the pair of jaws may beprovided with a hole therein arranged for receiving a pointed end of athreaded dowel screwed onto the second jaw of said pair of jaws.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce, or eveneliminate, the risk of damage and breakage of the sheet material duringits transport.

The pinching arrangement, in fact, grabs the sheet material for theentire duration of the transferring, thereby preventing the sheetmaterial sliding with respect to the underlying chain means.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for formingcontainers from sheet material, said at least one operating unitcomprising a deforming arrangement serving to produce in said sheetmaterial transversally extending folds, characterised in that saidapparatus further comprises a shearing unit arranged for removing fromsaid sheet material appendages of said sheet material resulting fromsaid folds after forming of said containers.

In a preferred version, said shearing unit comprises shearing mouldmeans.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to have anapparatus wherein the appendages consisting of material forming thefolds, which is not used for forming cavities, are removed beforefilling of the formed containers.

In the region where the appendages have been removed, promoting regionsof preferred separation are obtained in the sheet material thatfacilitate the separation of a container from the remaining containersobtained in the same portion of sheet material.

With this apparatus it is further possible to obtain containers that donot produce sharp swarf at the moment when the containers are opened.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising a receiving arrangement for receiving sheetmaterial provided with containers obtained from deformed regions of saidsheet material and mutually joined by undeformed regions of said sheetmaterial, an inducing arrangement for inducing a separation indicationserving to indicate in said undeformed regions lines of intendedseparation of said containers, characterised in that said inducing isconformed so as to act selectively on a few of said regions and not acton the remaining regions.

In a preferred version, the inducing arrangement comprises weakeningmeans for the sheet material.

In another preferred version, the inducing arrangement comprisesincision means.

In a further preferred version, the incision means comprises knifemeans, the positions of which may be adjusted so that the knife meansresults in a movement between a rest position wherein said knife meansdoes not interfere with the sheet material and an operating positionwherein said knife means interferes with the sheet material in order toincise or perforate said sheet material.

In a still further preferred version, the knife means comprises fixedknives associated with moving knives, each of the moving knivesco-operating with a respective fixed knife in order to produce incisionlines in the sheet material.

In a still further preferred version, the incision means furthercomprises, downstream of the knife means, separating means arranged forcutting the sheet material in a few regions in order to separate fromsaid sheet material portions of the sheet material comprising apre-established number of containers.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to have anapparatus wherein the sheet material constituting the containers is cutin regions of the sheet material where lines of incision were notpreviously present.

With this apparatus it is, therefore, possible to obtain portions ofsheet material comprising a pre-established number of containers made byseparating a portion of sheet material from the remaining portion ofsheet material by means of a cut that does not overlap, not evenpartially, incisions, or perforations, indiscriminately made in all theregions of the sheet material interposed between two adjacentcontainers.

Therefore, the apparatus enables, the limitation, or even the preventionof the production of swarf, typical of the apparatus of the Prior Art.

It is further possible that the apparatus easily allows changing fromthe production of portions of sheet material comprising a certain numberof containers to the production of portions of sheet material comprisinga different number of containers. This is possible since the apparatusenables the selection of the number of moving knives functioning at anystep of the working cycle.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod comprising providing a sheet material provided with containersobtained from deformed regions of said sheet material and mutuallyjoined by undeformed regions of said sheet material, and indicating insaid undeformed regions lines of intended separation of said containers,characterised in that said indicating comprises selectively acting on afew of said regions and not acting on the remaining regions.

In a preferred version, the selectively acting comprises weakening saidsheet material.

In another preferred version, the selectively acting comprises incisingthe sheet material in order to produce, in the few regions, incisionlines.

In a further preferred version, the selectively acting comprisesperforating the sheet material in order to produce, in the few regions,perforation lines.

In a further preferred version, the method comprises operating incisionmeans arranged for interacting with the sheet material.

In a still further preferred version, simultaneously with the producingof incision or performation lines cutting is provided in the few regionsin order to separate from the sheet material portions of sheet materialcomprising a pre-established number of containers.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to produceportions of sheet material comprising a pre-established number ofcontainers, lines of incision being provided between the containers ofeach portion, the lines of incision being suitable for enabling thedetachment of one of the containers from the remaining containers. Sucha method allows the substantial prevention the production of swarfformed from particles of sheet material.

Owing to this aspect of the invention it is further possible to alloweasy changeover from the production of portions of sheet materialcomprising a certain number of containers to the production of portionsof sheet material comprising a different number of containers.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a tapecomprising a sheet material formed so that a plurality of containers ispresent therein, and lines of intended separation in regions betweenadjacent containers of said tape to facilitate separation of saidcontainers, characterised in that said lines of intended separation arepresent only in a few of said regions.

In a preferred version, the lines of intended separation compriseincision lines.

In another preferred version, the lines of intended separation compriseperforation lines.

In a further preferred version, groups of a pre-established number ofregions provided with incision lines are regularly spaced along thetape, which groups are separated by a region lacking any incision lines.

Owing to this aspect of the invention it is possible to obtain a tapeprovided with un-incised regions interposed between two adjacentcontainers, the same number of containers being interposed between twoconsecutive unincised regions.

This enables portions of sheet material containing a pre-establishednumber on containers to be obtained from the tape by simply producing acut in each of the un-incised regions.

Thus the “cut-on-cut” effect, typical of the known apparatus, isprevented and thereby significantly reducing, or even completelyeliminating, the swarf formed by particles of sheet material.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for formingcontainers from sheet material, and a cutting arrangement serving toseparate from said sheet material portions of said sheet materialcomprising a pre-established number of said containers, characterised inthat the apparatus further comprises a collecting arrangement serving tocollect said portions in order to constitute stacks comprising apre-established number of said portions.

In an advantageous version, the collecting means comprises rotationmeans arranged for rotating the portions around a central longitudinalaxis.

Owing to this aspect of the invention,it is possible to enable theproduction of stacks of portions of sheet material wherein each portioncomprises a pre-established number of containers. The orientation of thecontainers within each portion may be varied.

This enables, in the case of containers having a portion with the shapeof a truncated cone, stacks provided with high stability and limitedencumbrance, since a region of a container, belonging to a portion ofsheet material and having a greater radial extension, is placed incontact with a region of another container, belonging to another portionof sheet material and having a smaller radial extension.

In particular, by interposing between two portions of sheet material,whose containers are orientated in the same direction, a portion ofsheet material comprising containers which are orientated in theopposite direction, it is possible to eliminate the “fanlike” stackingeffect that arises with the stacks of containers produced with apparatusaccording to the Prior Art.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for formingcontainers from sheet material, said at least one operating unitcomprising deforming arrangement serving to produce, in said sheetmaterial, transversely extending folds, characterised in that theapparatus further comprises an actuating arrangement for actuating saiddeforming arrangements independently one from the other.

In an advantageous version, the actuating arrangement comprisespneumatic actuator means.

In another advantageous version, the apparatus further comprisesposition-referencing means arranged for adjusting the operating strokeof such deforming arrangement.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain anapparatus wherein the changeover from the production of folds having acertain depth to the production of folds having different depth isrelatively easy.

For this purpose, it is sufficient to adjust the position-referencingmeans of the deforming arrangement.

This enables the apparatus to be suitable for working sheet materialshaving different properties, in particular a different deformability,without the need for the apparatus itself to be subjected to complexadjustments.

This further allows a variation in the size of the containers to beproduced and consequently a modification of the depth of the folds madein the sheet material.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus comprising a plurality of operating units arranged for formingfilled containers from sheet material advanced along a path, saidoperating units including a filling unit including a filler displaceablebetween an in-line position in which said filler serves to deliver fluidproduct to said containers and an off-line position in which said fillerserves to deliver such fluid product to at least one check container.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod comprising forming containers from sheet material, operating afiller in an in-line position to deliver flu8id product to saidcontainers, displacing said filler to an off-line position, andoperating said filler n said off-line position to deliver such fluidproduct to at least one check container.

Owing to these aspects of the present invention, it is possible in anaccurate, clean and reliable way to check, say, the dosing volumes orweights of individual dosing nozzles of a row of such nozzles. Thetransverse movement of the whole of the filler is particularlyadvantageous when the filler is encased for aseptic or sterile filling.

In order that the invention may be clearly disclosed, reference will nowbe made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of part of an apparatus suitable for formingcontainers from sheet metal,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and broken detail of FIG. 1 highlighting anunwinding device for a film to be formed, a forming station forobtaining containers, and a filling station of the formed containers,

FIG. 3 is a front view of a tape, formed by a pair of mutually weldedfilms, wherein a plurality of containers has been formed,

FIG. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are views taken along a horizontalplane of a first unit equipped with a deep-drawing mould for obtainingcontainers from a film of aluminium, that illustrate the first unit infour subsequent steps of the operation of plastic deformation of thefilm,

FIG. 8A is a front view of a pressing-tape plate in the first unit,

FIG. 9 is an enlarged and broken detail of FIG. 1 highlighting a coolingstation for the contents of the formed and filled containers and asealing station of the filling openings of the same containers,

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but highlighting the formingstation in a different configuration wherein the station is particularlysuitable for obtaining containers by forming films of aluminium,

FIG. 11 is a front view of a film of aluminium at the exit of thedeep-drawing unit of the forming station of FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line XII-XII of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a broken side view of the apparatus of FIG. 2, highlightingthe unwinding device of the films, the forming station and the fillingstation,

FIG. 14 is a side view of a device for cutting, stacking and perforatingthe tape wherein the formed, filled and sealed containers are obtained,

FIG. 15 is an elevational side view from the right of FIG. 1,highlighting the unwinding device of the films,

FIG. 16 is a section taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIG. 2 highlightinga first unit of the forming station,

FIG. 16A is a vertical transversal section of a welding mould providedin the first unit,

FIG. 17 is a front view of the first unit of the forming station of FIG.16,

FIG. 18 is an enlarged and broken detail of a variant of the bottomportion of the first unit,

FIG. 19 is a side view of the forming station of a first configuration,

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19, highlighting the forming stationin a second configuration for producing containers of greater size,

FIG. 21 is an enlarged, broken and partially sectioned detail of avariant of the lower portion of a unit in the forming station,

FIG. 22 is a section taken along the line XXII-XXII of FIG. 2highlighting the filling station for the formed containers,

FIG. 23 is a section taken along the line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 9highlighting the cooling station,

FIG. 24 is a section taken along the line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 3highlighting the sealing station of the filling openings of thecontainers,

FIG. 25 is a section taken along the line XXV-XXV of FIG. 13highlighting a driving roller for the tape of formed, filled and sealedcontainers,

FIG. 26 is an enlarged and broken detail of the uppermost central partof FIG. 23,

FIG. 27 is a side view of pincer means arranged for transferring thetape through the cooling station,

FIG. 28 is a plan view of the pincer means of FIG. 27 shown in an openedposition,

FIG. 29 is plan view of the pincer means of FIG. 27 shown in a closedposition,

FIG. 30 is an exploded plan view of the pincer means of FIG. 27,

FIG. 31 is a view similar to FIG. 28 showing the pincer means associatedwith pressing means arranged for bringing the pincer means from theopening position to the closing position,

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 29 showing the pincer means associatedwith divaricating means arranged for bringing the pincer means from theclosed position to the opened position,

FIG. 33 is a sketched section taken along a vertical plane of thecooling station showing an entry region of the tape into the coolingstation,

FIG. 34 is sketched section taken along a vertical plane of the coolingstation showing an exit region of the tape from the cooling station,

FIG. 35 is a section taken along a horizontal plane of a tape-movingdevice of the welding station,

FIG. 36 is a front view of a section of containers as it appears onexiting the cutting, stacking and perforating device of FIG. 14,

FIG. 37 is a section taken along a vertical plane of a shearing devicewith which the cutting, stacking and perforating device of FIG. 14 isprovided,

FIG. 38 is a side view of driving means arranged for receiving a sectionof containers,

FIG. 39 is a plan view of the driving means of FIG. 38,

FIG. 40 is a side view of three containers stacked according to a firstmanner,

FIG. 41 is a side view of three containers stacked according to a secondmanner,

FIG. 42 is a deviated and enlarged section taken along the lineXLII-XLII of FIG. 8A, relating to the pressing-tape plate mounted on thefirst unit,

FIG. 43 is a deviated and enlarged section taken along the planeXLIII-XLIII of FIG. 8A, relating to the pressing-tape plate mounted onthe first unit,

FIG. 44 is a section taken along the line XLIV-XLIV of FIG. 16A,

FIG. 45 is a front view of one of two welding half-moulds shown at FIGS.16A or 44,

FIG. 46 is a vertical section of a heating mould for the sheet materialprovided in the second unit,

FIG. 47 is a vertical section of a forming mould for the sheet materialprovided in the third unit,

FIG. 48 is a vertical section of a shearing device provided in thefourth unit,

FIG. 49 is a front view of a tape of filled and sealed formed containersprovided with transverse lines of separation, and

FIG. 50 is a diagrammatic plan view of a further variant of theapparatus.

With reference to the FIG. 1, an apparatus 1 is shown for formingcontainers 3 arranged for receiving a fluid product designed to formsuppositories for medical usage. As shown in FIG. 15, the apparatuscomprises an unwinding device 19 comprising a first coil 21 from which afirst film 5 is unwound and a second coil 23 from which a second film 7is unwound. The first coil 21 and the second coil 23 are associated,respectively, with a first guiding device 25 and a second guiding device27, each guiding device being provided with a plurality of idle rollersarranged for tensioning the first film 5 and the second film 7 in orderto allow the films 5 and 7 to be properly unwound from their respectivecoils.

The first guiding device 25 and the second guiding device 27 furthercomprise, respectively a first diverting device 29 and a seconddiverting device 31. The diverting devices 29 and 31 are arranged forrotating, by about 90°, the first film 5 and the second film 7,respectively, in order to bring them from a substantially horizontalposition to a substantially vertical position at the exit from theunwinding device 19.

With reference to the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the apparatus 1 comprises aforming station 9, arranged downstream with respect to the unwindingdevice 19, wherein the containers 3 are obtained from the first film 5and from the second film 7, mutually facing each other in order to forma continuous tape 43. Such containers 3 comprise a pair of shells 51 a,and 51 b, each of which is obtained, respectively, from one of the films5 and 7, welded along a peripheral edge 47.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a transferring device 129 arranged forthe stepwise advancing of the first film 5 and the second film 7 throughthe forming station 9.

The transferring device 129, as shown in FIG. 13, comprises a pluralityof pincers 131 provided with jaws which are pneumatically actuated andarranged for grabbing the tape 43 in an upper region 43 a and in a lowerregion 43 b.

The transferring device 129 comprises a supporting frame 133 to whichthe pincers 131 are fixed.

The supporting frame 133 comprises a pair of runners 133 ainterconnected at their ends by posts, not shown in their details, so asto form a frame, of substantially rectangular shape, lying in a verticalplane.

The frame 133 is firmly fixed to a trolley 135 that is driven to producereciprocating rectilinear motion on a guide 137 by cam actuating means139 which is provided with a motor 140.

Therefore, the pincers 131 may be placed at consecutive longitudinalsections along the tape 43, the number of the pincers 131 beingdependent upon the properties of the material constituting the firstfilm 5 and the second film 7 and upon the transverse dimensions of thefilms 5 and 7.

In particular, the pincers 131 may be placed at intermediate positionsin the forming station 9, for example between the facing portions of allthe units with which the forming station is provided. This arrangementis not allowed in known machines where the grabbing and driving means isonly provided upstream and downstream with respect to the formingstation.

The apparatus 1 comprises, downstream of the forming station 9, afilling station 11, wherein a product, in the fluid or semi-fluid state,is introduced into the containers 3 through an upper opening 49,identified by a portion of film where the welding extending aroung theperipheral edge 47 is interruped.

Downstream of the filling station 11, the apparatus 1 is furtherprovided with a cooling station 13, wherein the product introduced intothe containers 3 is cooled. When the apparatus 1 is used for producingsuppositories or the like, cooling enables the fluid product introducedto assume a solid consistency.

The apparatus 1 also comprises, downstream of the cooling station 13, awelding station 15 wherein the openings 49, through which the product isintroduced, are sealed.

As shown in FIG. 14, downstream of the welding station 15, the apparatusmay provide a shearing station 17 at which strings of containers,comprising a pre-established number of containers 3, are separated fromthe remaining part of the tape 43. In the shearing station 17, aperforation of the tape 43 between adjacent containers 3 can take place,in order to facilitate the separation of the containers 3 from eachother at the appropriate time. In the shearing station 17 stacking ofthe sheared strings of containers can occur so that the strings arepredisposed for subsequent packing, for example inside boxes. Withreference to FIGS. 2 and 10, two configurations of the forming station 9are shown, in each one of which the operating units, with which theforming station 9 is provided, are arranged for interacting with thefirst film 5 and the second film 7 in order to obtain containers fromthem.

In the first configuration, shown in the FIG. 2, the forming station 9is arranged for forming a first film 5 and a second film 7 both made ofplastics material.

Upstream of the forming station 9, there is arranged a deflecting device33 that brings the first film 5 into contact with the second film 7 inorder to form the tape 43.

The forming station 9 comprises a first unit 35 provided with mouldssuitable for welding the first film 5 and the second film 7 togetheralong the peripheral edge 43 of the containers 3 to be made, the mouldsbeing conformed so as to leave an unwelded portion at a specific regionof the peripheral edge so as to define the opening 49 into which air isto be injected.

The forming station 9 comprises, downstream of the first unit 35, asecond unit 37 at which pre-heating of the first film 5 and the secondfilm 7 occurs, in order to prepare the films 5 and 7 to form, byinjection of air. Such injection takes place in a third unit 39,provided downstream of the second unit 37.

The forming station 9 further comprises, downstream of the third unit39, a fourth unit 41 at which portions 45 are removed from the tape 43so as to form weakened regions which enable, in use, an easy detachmentof a container 3 from the string comprising the remaining containers 3.

With reference to the FIGS. 16A, 44 and 45, a welding mould 333 suitablefor being associated with the first station 35 of the apparatus 1 isshown.

The welding mould 333 comprises a pair of half-moulds 333 a and 333 bmoving towards and away from each other, as shown by the arrows F2.

Each of the half-moulds 333 a, 333 b comprises a plate 334 from which aplurality of ridges 335 protrude. The ridges 335 have the same shape asthe peripheral edge of the containers 3 to be formed.

When the first half-mould 333 a and the second half-mould 333 b aremoved towards each other, their respective other ridges 335 contact thefirst film 5 and the second film 7 to produce a welding 336 of the twofilms 5 and 7 defining the edge of the containers 3 to be formed.

As shown in FIG. 45, the ridges 335 are open in a region 337, at whichan opening is obtained through which, in the second unit 37, a jet ofpressurised fluid is introduced between the first film 5 and the secondfilm 7.

With reference to the FIG. 46, a heating mould 337 is shown with whichthe second station 37 is equipped.

The heating mould 337 comprises a first half-mould 337 a and a secondhalf-mould 337 b moving mutually towards and away from each other, asindicated by the arrows F13.

The first half-mould 337 a and the second half-mould 337 b each comprisean active surface 338 which is substantially smooth and arranged to heatthe first film 5 and the second film 7, connected at portions by meansof the welding 336. The heating stage prepares the films for subsequentforming.

With reference to FIG. 47, a forming mould 339 is shown which issuitable for being associated with the third station 39 of the apparatus1.

The forming mould 339 comprises a first half-mould 339 a and a secondhalf-mould 339 b mutually moving towards and away from each other, asindicated by the arrows F14.

The first half-mould 339 a and the second half-mould 339 b each comprisea body 340 provided with a cavity 341 on the inner surface thereofshaped so as to define one half of the containers 3 to be formed.

Seats are provided in each of the bodies 340 for receiving heatingelements for heating the first film 5 and the second film 7.

The forming mould 339 further comprises an injecting device 342 arrangedfor injecting a substance between the first film 5 and the second film 7in order to form a shape corresponding to the shazpe formed by thecavities 341 when the first and second half moulds 339 a and 339 b aremoved together.

The injecting device comprises a body 343 comprising a pair of surfaces344 defining a wedge, such wedge being suitable for being insertedbetween the first and the second film.

The body 343 comprises a duct 345, arranged for supplying a pressurisedfluid to nozzles 346, each nozzle 346 being suitable for beingassociated with a respective opening of the containers to be formed.

In the second configuration, shown in the FIG. 10, the forming station 9is arranged for forming a first film 5 and a second film 7 consisting ofa sheet of aluminium associated with at least one sheet of plasticsmaterial, for example ethylene.

The forming station 9 comprises a first unit 35 a provided with moulds301 (FIG. 42) suitable for deforming the first film 5 and the secondfilm 7 by deep-drawing so as to obtain in each of them a shell 51 a, 51b, each defining a half of container 3.

In this configuration, the first unit 35 a is set apart from the secondunit 37 a, provided downstream, in order to enable groups of a pair ofdeep-drawing punches to be inserted between the first film 5 and thesecond film 7, each of the said punches co-operates with a respectivematrix in order to deform the first film 5 and the second film 7 and toobtain the shells 51 a, 51 b therefrom (FIGS. 5 to 8).

As shown in the FIGS. 5 to 8, each matrix 55 comprises a plurality ofadjacent main cavities 57, arranged for deforming one of the films, inthe case shown the first film 5, in order to obtain the shells 51 a and51 b, and a plurality of secondary cavities 59 arranged so that eachsecondary cavity 59 is interposed between a pair of adjacent maincavities 57.

A punch 53 is associated with each main cavity 57.

A tape-pressing device 61 is further associated with the matrix,connected to a body of the mould 301 by means of springs 63. As it willbe described in greater detail hereinafter, the tape-pressing device 61is arranged to hold the first film 5 in position during the deep-drawingoperations.

A plurality of deforming means 65 are further associated with the matrix55, each of the deforming means 65 co-operating with a respectivesecondary cavity 59; the deforming means 65 being arranged to obtain, inthe first film 5, a plurality of folds 67, such folds 67 enabling theshells 51 a, 51 b to properly form, as will be described below.

The deforming means 65 interacts with the first film 5 not at the sametime, but according to a pre-established order. In particular, in thecase the first film 5 advances in the direction shown by the arrow F,the first of the deforming means 65 to interact with the film 5 is thatplaced more downstream inside the first unit 35 a, then, in sequence,the deforming means 65 located upstream, with respect to the advancingdirection F.

Thus, when the deforming means 65 is inside its respective secondarycavities 59, pre-established extensions of the film 5 can be obtainedwithout damaging the material of which the film 5 is made. Otherwise,forming the shells 51 a and 51 b made by the punches 53 might cause ripsor weakening of the first film 5 since the film 5 would be subjected todeformations greater than those allowed by the elastic limit of thealuminium.

In order to remove this disadvantage, folds 67 are made on the firstfilm 5, in the manner described before, so that the material forming thefolds 67, when the punches 53 are introduced into the main cavities 57,is drawn back toward the previous cavities and co-operates to form theshells 51 a and 51 b.

As shown in FIG. 11, at the end of the forming step by deep-drawing thetape 43 is obtained wherein a plurality of shells 51 a and 51 b areproduced. In the portions of the tape 43 interposed between two adjacentshells a first central region 69 can be identified, being substantiallyflat since the material forming the fold 67 during formation was usedfor forming the shells. Second and third end regions 71 a and 71 b,constituted by remaining portions 67 a, 67 b of the fold 67 can also beidentified. The second and third end regions 71 a and 71 b are locatedin a peripheral area of the tape 43, and are not drawn back during thedeep-drawing step.

The deforming means 65 are driven by actuating means to translatebetween a raised rest position, in which the deforming means 65 does notinteract with the first film 5, and a lowered operating position inwhich the deforming means 65 penetrates inside the secondary cavities59.

With reference to the FIGS. 8A, 42 and 43 a mould 301 and thetape-pressing device 61 associated thereto is shown in greater detail.

The mould 301 comprises a matrix 55 consisting of a first plate 302slidably mounted on guiding bars 303 connected to a body 304 of themould 301.

A plurality of main cavities 57 is obtained in the matrix 55.

The mould 301 further comprises a plurality of punches 53 firmlyconnected to the body 304.

Between the matrix 55 and the punches 53, there is provided thetape-pressing device 61, which comprises a second plate 306 slidinglycoupled with the guiding bars 303 and held at a certain distance fromthe body 304 by springs 63.

The second plate 306 is provided with first slots 307 arranged forallowing the passage through them of the punches 53, in order to enablethe plastic deformation of the first film 5. The second plate 306 isfurther provided with second slots 308, each of the said second slots308 being interposed between two adjacent first slots 307. The secondslots 308 are configured so that the deforming means 65 can pass throughthem, during the movement of bringing the deforming means 65 to engageinto respective secondary cavities 59, to give rise to the folds 67.

In use, the first plate 302 is translated by an amount X1 toward thebody 304 so that the first film 5, sustained by suitable supportingelements 309 firmly fixed to the tape-pressing device 61, is pressedbetween the first plate 302 and the second plate 306.

The first plate 302 is provided with seats 310 arranged for receivingthe supporting elements 309 when the first plate 302 is brought intocontact with the second plate 306.

Then, the set consisting of the first plate 302, the tape-pressingdevice 61 and the first film 5 interposed there between is moved by afurther amount X2 so that each of the punches 53 penetrates into therespective main cavities 57 in order to perform the deep-drawing of thesheet material.

The second plate 306 is provided with hollows 311 with which thedeforming means 65 is slidingly coupled, by means of rollers 312.

The pressing means is operated, by actuating means 300 comprisingpneumatic cylinder means 313 supplied by pressurised air by means of aduct 314, to slide inside the hollow means, so as to partially protrudefrom them.

In this manner, each of the deforming means 65 can be actuatedindependently from the others, which allows operation of the deformingmeans 65 according to a pre-established sequence, as above described, ateach desired moment.

Each of the supporting elements 309 is provided with a shank 315occupying a portion of a respective hollow 311 in order to form a stopfor the pistons 316 of the pneumatic cylinder means 313.

Owing to the presence of the shank 315, it is possible to vary easilyand precisely the stroke of the deforming means 65 inside the secondarycavities 59 in order to obtain folds 67 having a pre-established depthand thus produce folds with a pre-established amount of material.

This enables the ideal formation of shells 51 a and 51 b starting fromfilms consisting of sheets of aluminium having different elasticdeformability properties: in particular, in the case of sheets ofaluminium with greater deformability it is possible to produce folds 67of limited depth, whereas in the case of sheets of aluminium with lessdeformability it is necessary to produce folds 67 of greater depth.

Such regulation was not easily achievable with the previously knownapparatus since, in such apparatus, the deforming means was actuatedmechanically by means of cam devices. Thus, in order to vary the amountof the stroke of the deforming means inside their respective seats itwas necessary to substitute the cams with other cams having a differentprofile.

The usage of pneumatically controlled deforming means 65 furtherenables, in the case here it is necessary to change from the productionof containers 3 of pre-established size to the production of containers3 of different size, easy and rapid variation of the depth of the folds67 with respect to the size of the containers to be produced.

The forming station 9 further comprises a second unit 37 a that, in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 10, is inactive, and downstream of thissecond unit 37 a there is a third unit 39 a at which the first film 5 iswelded to the second film 7 along a peripheral edge 47, to keep unweldeda section of the edge 47 to define a filling opening 49 in each of thecontainers 3.

Between the first unit 35 a and the second unit 37 a there is positioneda deflecting device 33 which brings the first film 5, in which theshells 51 a have been obtained, in contact with the second film 7,wherein the shells 51 b have been formed, in order to form the tape 43.

The forming station 9 comprises, downstream to the third unit 39 a, afourth unit 41 a at which portions 45 are removed from the tape 43,which portions 45 comprise the remaining parts 67 a and 67 b (see FIG.11) of the folds 67. As already described in the case of forming filmsmade of plastics material, removing the portions 45 allows the creationof weakening, enabling easy detachment of the containers 3.

With reference to the FIG. 48, a shearing mould 347 is shown with whichthe fourth unit 41 a is equipped.

The shearing mould 347 comprises a first half-mould 347 a and a secondhalf-mould 347 b moving mutually towards and away from each other, asshown by the arrows F15.

The first half-mould 347 a comprises a body 348 to which a pair ofshearing elements 349 are firmly attached, each of said shearingelements 349 being suitable for being received into a respective seat350 formed in the second half-mould 347 b.

The second half-mould 347 b comprises a matrix 351 inside which acleaning duct 372 is provided, arranged for collecting from the seats350 the removed portions 45 of the sheet material.

The second half-mould 347 b is further provided with a plurality ofcavities 352 arranged for receiving the containers 3 during the shearingoperations.

As shown in the FIGS. 16 to 21, each unit 35, 37, 39, 41 comprises amotor 73, advantageously a brushless motor, that operates a screw 75with which a female screw 77 is associated, which is connected to aplate 79.

A first end 81 a of a first rod 81 and a first end 83 a of a second rod83 are respectively hinged at opposing ends 79 a, 79 b of the plate 79.

A second end 81 b of the first rod 81 is connected to a moving plate 85connected, by means of columns 87, to a first mould-holding plate 91 towhich a first half-mould 93 is fixed.

The columns 87 are slidingly coupled with supporting elements 93 and 95connected to the frame of the apparatus 1.

A second end 83 b of the second rod 83 is connected to a secondmould-holding plate 93 to which a second half-mould 99 is fixed.

The second mould-holding plate is slidingly coupled with the columns 87which guide its mutual movement, towards or away from the firstmould-holding plate 91.

When the motor 73 rotatably drives the screw 75, the plate 79 moves inthe direction shown by the arrow F1, from its top-dead centre position,shown in the FIGS. 16, 19, 20 and 21; such position corresponding to themaximum mutual separation of the first half-mould 93 from the secondhalf-mould 99.

In this case, the second rod 83 pushes the second mould-holding plate 97by translating it in the direction of the arrow F4.

Simultaneously, the first rod 81 pushes the moving plate 85 in thedirection of the arrow F3. The moving plate 85, in turn, pulls the firstmould-holding plate 91 by causing its movement in the direction of thearrow F5.

Thus, the first mould-holding plate 91 and the second mould-holdingplate 97 move toward each other in order to bring the first half-mouldmeans 93 to interact with the second half-mould means 99.

Each unit 35, 37, 39, 41 is further provided, in a lower region 101thereof, with an appendage 103 in which a hole 105 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 17, a threaded rod 107, firmly connected with the frameof the apparatus 1, results passing through the hole 105.

The above-mentioned units 35, 37, 39, 41 are moving in the directionindicated by the arrows F7 as shown in the FIGS. 2 and 10, by sliding ona pair of guides 109 and 111 firmly connected to the frame of theapparatus 1.

Thus, the units 35, 37, 39, 41 may be mutually moved closer together oraway from each other in accordance with the longitudinal size of thefirst half-moulds 93 and the second half-moulds 99.

With the appendage 103, there is associated a first nut 115, arrangedfor interacting with a first face 113 of the appendage 103, and a secondnut 115, arranged for interacting with a second face of the appendage103.

Each unit 35, 37, 39, 41 may be very easily longitudinally positionedalong the guides 109, 111 by simply unscrewing the first nut 113 and thesecond nut 115, and by moving the unit 35, 37, 39, 41 in the desiredposition and then by tightening again the first nut 113 and the secondnut 115 respectively again the faces of the appendage 103.

In a version of the apparatus 1 shown in the FIGS. 19 and 20, thethreaded rod 107 may include four sections 317, 318, 319 and 320 havingdifferent threading pitches.

Moreover, the second section 318, the third section 319 and the fourthsection 320 may have, respectively, a pitch two, three and four times aslarge as the first section 317. Thus, by rotatably driving the threadedrod 107 by means of a wheel 325 it is possible to simultaneouslytranslate the units 35, 37, 39, 41 by holding them substantiallyequidistant.

Furthermore, it is possible to pass from a configuration B1, shown inFIG. 19, wherein the units 35, 37, 39, 41 are separated by a distance H1and are equipped with moulds 321, 322, 323 and 324 having a longitudinalencumbrance Z1, to a configuration B2, shown in FIG. 20, wherein theunits 35,37,39, 41 are moved away, resulting in a separation of adistance H2, so that further moulds 321 a, 322 a, 323 a and 324 a, maybe associated with them, having a longitudinal encumbrance Z2, greaterthan the longitudinal encumbrance Z1 of the moulds 321, 322, 323, 324.

As shown in FIG. 21, each appendage 103 may be associated with a bush117 coupled with a section of the threaded rod 107.

The bush 117 comprises a body 326 provided with a shoulder 327, actingas a reference for the appendage 103.

The body 326 comprises a first end 328 having a hexagonal section 378that makes the first end suitable for coupling with a spanner arrangedfor controlling the bush 117 in order to translate it along the threadedrod 107.

The body 326 comprises a second end provided with an external surface onwhich a thread 329 is made whereupon a nut 330 may be screwed forholding the appendage 103 against the shoulder 327.

Between the nut 330 and the appendage 103 there is provided a washer 333that allows a certain clearance enabling the rotation of the bush 117with respect to the appendage 103 during the adjustment of the positionof the units 35, 37, 39, 41 along the threaded rod 107.

The appendage 103 comprises, at its lower portion, a threaded hole 331with which a pressing screw 332 may be associated and used to fix theappendage 103 to the bush 117, once the said adjustment has beencompleted.

By slightly unscrewing the bush 117 it is possible, therefore, toachieve an accurate positioning of the units 35, 37, 39, 41, in order tocorrect errors caused by possible gaps of different pitch between thesections 317, 318, 319, 320.

As shown in FIG. 16, the rods 87 comprise a pair of lower rods 87 bhaving an end 119 with which a first portion 119 a of a joint 119 isassociated, and a second portion 119 b is fixed to the firstmould-holding plate 91.

The rods 87 further comprise a pair of upper rods 87 a provided with athreaded end 123 which passes though a hole 125 in the firstmould-holding plate 91 and which is suitable for coupling with a fixingnut 127.

After the nut 127 has been removed from the threaded end 125, it ispossible to rotate the first mould-holding plate 91 around an X axis, inthe direction indicated by the arrow R, so that the first half-mould 93and the second half-mould 99 are made easily accessible.

Downstream of the forming station 9 there is provided a filling station141 for the formed containers 3.

As shown in FIG. 22, the filling station comprises a tank 143 arrangedfor containing a fluid product to be introduced into the containers 3through the openings 49 by means of dosing nozzles 145. It will beunderstood from FIG. 22 that the tank 143 contains a stirrer 143 arotated about a vertical axis by a motor 143 b through a transmission143 c, that the fluid product is delivered from the tank 143 to a filler144 whereof a frame 144 a has mounted thereon a pump 144 b connected tothe dosing nozzles 145, a piston-and-cylinder drive motor 144 c for thepump 144 b, a rocker 144 d for lifting and lowering the group of nozzles145 out of and back into the horizontal path of the tape 43, and apiston-and-cylinder drive motor 144 e for oscillating the rocker 144 dabout a horizontal axis, and that the filler 144 comprised of the items144 a to 144 e is displaceable transversely of that path by apiston-and-cylinder device motor 146 which slides the frame 144 a alongfixed horizontal guides 146 a. The filler 144 can thus be brought fromthe in-line position shown in FIG. 22 into an off-line position with thenozzles 145 directly above a fixed bracket 146 b in which can be mounteda tape section into the containers of which the nozzles 145 dose theliquid product. The filled tape section is then removed from the bracket146 b and taken away for a dosing check.

Transferring of the containers 3 through the filling station 141 iscarried out by means of a roller 147, shown in FIG. 13, provided, asshown in FIG. 25, with grooves 148 conformed so as to receive one of theshells 51 a, 51 b constituting the containers 3 and with lands 151whereon the undeformed regions of the tape 43 rest.

The roller 147 is firmly connected with a pulley 149 (see FIG. 13) withwhich a toothed belt 151 is coupled, tensioned between the pulley 149and a further pulley 153.

With the belt 151 there is associated a pincer 155, firmly connectedwith a slide 157 moving along guides 159.

During a forward stroke of the slide 157, the pincer 155 is placed in aclosed configuration, wherein it grabs and drags the belt 151. Then,during the backward stroke of the slide 157, the pincer 155 is held inan open configuration, wherein it does not interfere with the belt 151.

The slide 157 is driven with reciprocating rectilinear motion, by meansof a lever not shown, by the same motor 140 that controls the actuatingcam means 139.

Thus, the rotation of the roller 147 is perfectly in phase withadvancing of the tape 43 through the forming stations 9 and the fillingstation 141.

A cooling station 161 is provided downstream to the filling station 141,wherein the fluid material with which the containers 3 have been filledassumes a substantially solid consistency.

As shown in the FIGS. 9, 23 and 26, the cooling station 161 comprisesthree cooling devices: a first cooling device 161 a, a second coolingdevice 161 b and a third cooling device 161 c, each of which comprises ahousing 163 wherein dividing walls 165 are provided, delimiting guidinggrooves 167 arranged for receiving the tape 43. The grooves 167 define adouble spiral path for the tape 43 so that adjacent grooves 167 aretravelled in by the containers proceeding in opposing directions.

The tape 43 spends a long time in travelling the tortuous path definedby the walls 165 inside the cooling station 161: that allows the productwith which the containers 3 are filled to complete the transition fromthe liquid state to the solid state, before the containers 3 exit fromthe filling station 161.

a chain 169 is arranged on the bottom of the grooves 16, driven by arotatable driving gear 171 and redirected by a driven gear 173.

Above the housing 163 there is arranged a cover 175, suitable fordelimiting a cooled room 177 insulated from the external environment.

Each cooling device 161 a, 161 b, 161 c comprises a fan 179 arranged forexhausting air from the enclosure 177 and direct it towards a heatexchanging group 181, after the air has passed through a purifyingfilter 183.

As shown in the FIGS. 27 to 34, pincer means 185 is associated withlinks 187 of the chain 169, the pincer means 185 being arranged forgrabbing the tape 43 during its advance, the pincer means 185 beingspaced apart from each other by a pre-established number of links.

Each pincer means 185 comprises a pair of jaws 185 a, 185 b mutuallyhinged and oscillating around an axis Y between a rest position, shownin FIG. 28, wherein the pincer means 185 is open and not interactingwith the tape 43 and an operating position, shown in FIG. 29, whereinthe pincer means 185 is closed for grabbing the tape 43.

As shown in FIG. 30, a first jaw 185 a of the pair of jaws may beprovided with a hole 189 arranged for receiving a sharp end 193 of athreaded dowel 191 screwed in the second jaw 185 b of the pair of jaws.

In the operating position, when the pincer means 185 closes up, the end193 penetrates into the hole 189 after having perforated a lower borderof the tape 43.

As shown schematically in FIG. 33, in the entry region 195 of each ofthe cooling devices 161 a, 161 b, 161 c the chain 169 slides on anascending inclined plane 197 and lies therefore at a level lower thanthe containers 3.

As shown in FIG. 32, at the end of the ascending inclined plane 197, thepincer means 185 is received in a groove 167 delimited by walls 165divided by a distance d1, so that the pincer means may occupy an openconfiguration.

In order to ensure that the first jaw 185 a and the second jaw 185 b areproperly spaced one from the other, in order to enable the tape 43 to bereceived between them, there is provided deviating means 207 arrangedfor interacting with end portions 208 of the first jaw 185 a and thesecond jaw 185 b.

Downstream of the deviating means 207, the tape 43 is deposited on thechain 169 so as to proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow F6 inFIG. 32.

Near the region where the sheet material is placed upright on the chain169, a pair of rollers 199 is provided, shown in FIG. 31, arranged forpressing the first jaw 185 a toward the second jaw 185 b in order tobring them to interact with the tape 43.

In the area corresponding to the rollers 199, and downstream of them,the walls 165 defining the groove 167 are spaced apart by a distance d2,less than the distance d1, in order to receive and hold the pincer means185 in a closed configuration.

Once the end 193 has penetrated into the hole 189, the pincer means 185remains in its operating position, with the end 193 lodged in the tape43.

Between the pincer means 185 and the walls 165 there is provided acertain clearance 201, that discourages undesired sliding of the jaws185 a and 185 b on the walls 165.

As schematically shown in FIG. 34, in the exit region of each coolingdevices 161 a, 161 b, 161 c the chain 169 slides on a descendinginclined plane 205 so as to enable the tape 43 to disengage from thepincer means 185.

In order to enable such disengagement, in the region preceding thedescending inclined plane 205, the groove 167 is sufficiently wide widthto enable the first jaw 185 a and the second jaw 185 b to move away fromeach other.

Downstream of the cooling station 161 there is provided a sealingstation 209 wherein the openings 49 are closed and there are furtherperformed knurling operations of the tape 43 and then punchingoperations on the tape in order to imprint thereon a code comprisinginformation relating to the packaged product, such as the use-by date.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sealing station 209 comprises a pre-heatingstation 211, arranged for heating the material constituting the firstfilm 5 and the second film 7 in order to prepare them for welding. Thepre-heating unit 211 is provided with a first mould 213, a second mould215 and a third mould 217 through which the containers 3, already formedand filled, are indexed, the first mould 213, the second mould 215 andthe third mould 217 providing, in this manner, progressive heating ofthe first film 5 and the second film 7.

Downstream to the pre-heating unit 211 there is provided a welding unit219 providing to weld the first film 5 with the second film 7, in thearea of the opening 49, to close the container.

Downstream of the welding unit 219, there is provided a knurling andpunching unit 221, wherein the tape 43 is plastically deformed so as toobtain on its external surface a knurling and a code carryinginformation about the packaged product.

As shown in FIG. 24, the pre-heating unit 211 has a structure similar tothe above-described units 35, 37, 39, 41 of the forming station 9.

The pre-heating station 211 comprises, as indicated in FIG. 24, firstmould-holding plate means 223 with which first half-mould means 215 a,217 a, 219 a are firmly connected, and second mould-holding plate means225 with which second half-mould means 215 a, 217 a, 219 a are firmlyconnected.

The first mould-holding plate means 223 is connected with moving platemeans 227 by means of guiding rod means 229 slidingly coupled with aframe 228 of the pre-heating unit 211. First block reference means 233is connected, by means of first pneumatic cylinder means 231, with themoving plate means 227, with which block reference means 233 there isrotatably supported first small roller follower means 235 arranged forinteracting with first cam means 237, as it will be described more indetail later.

Similarly, second block reference means 241 is connected, by means ofsecond pneumatic cylinder means 239, with the second mould-holding platemeans 225, with which second block reference means 241 there isrotatably supported second small roller follower means 243 arranged forinteracting with second cam means 245.

The first cam means 237 and the second cam means 245 are rotated by acommon motor, not shown, and have symmetrical and opposed profiles.During operation of the motor, therefore, the first cam means 237 andsecond cam means 245 cause the mutual moving closer and away of thefirst mould-holding plate means 223 and the second mould-holding platemeans 225.

The use of first pneumatic cylinder means 231 and second pneumaticcylinder means 239 permit, when necessary, a damping of the clampingforce and so prevents excessive loads on the first half-mould means 215a, 217 a, 219 a, and the second half-mould means 215 a, 217 a, 219 a.

The welding unit 219 and the knurling and punching unit 221 areconstructed and operate similarly to the pre-heating unit 211 abovedescribed.

As shown schematically in FIG. 35, the tape 43 is advanced through theheating station 209 by means of a dragging device 247 comprising firstroller means 249, arranged upstream of the pre-heating unit 211 andsecond roller means 251 arranged downstream of the knurling and codingunit 221. The first roller means 249 and the second roller means 251 areprovided with hollows 253 arranged for coupling with the shells 51 a, 51b constituting the containers 3.

The first roller means 249 and the second roller means 251 are driven,respectively, by means of first belt means 255 and second belt means257, both driven by motorised pulley means 259.

With reference to FIGS. 14, 36 and 37, the apparatus 1 comprises,downstream of the welding station 209, a shearing station 261, whereinthe tape 43 is cut in order to obtain from it sections 263 eachincluding a pre-established number of containers 3.

In the shearing station 261, furthermore, the sections 263 are cut so asto obtain, in each of the regions 265 between two adjacent containers 3,perforations 267 facilitating detachment of a container 3 from thesection 263 at the time of use.

Upstream of the shearing station 261 there is arranged a turning device,not shown, that receives the tape 43 in a substantially verticalcondition at the exit from the welding station 209 and turns the tape 43through an angle of about 90° in order to bring it to a substantiallyhorizontal condition.

The shearing station 261 comprises a shearing device 269 provided withlower knives 271 a, 271 b, 271 c, 271 d, 271 e, fixed to a fixed supportbase 273 of the shearing device 269.

The shearing device 269 further comprises upper knives 275 a, 275 b, 275c, 275 d, each of which fixed to a supporting element 277 inserted intoa respective seat 279, the seats 279 being provided in a movingcross-beam 281 of the shearing device 269.

The shearing device 269 further comprises a further upper knife 275 earranged downstream of the upper knives 275 a, 275 b, 275 c, 275 d.

The further upper knife 275 e is firmly fixed to the moving cross-beam281. The position of the further upper knife 275 e with respect to themoving cross-beam 281 is, therefore, fixed and not adjustable, unlikethe positions of the upper knives 275 a, 275 b, 275 c, 275 d.

An adjusting screw 281 is associated with each supporting element 277,and is rotatable to cause the associated supporting element 277 totranslate inside the associated seat 279 in the direction indicated bythe arrow F9: that enables adjustment of the position of each supportingelement 277 regardless of the position of the other supporting elements277.

The shearing device 269 further comprises actuating means 283,comprising an eccentric 285 driven by a motor, for driving withreciprocating rectilinear motion the moving cross-beam 281 in order tomove the upper knives 275 a, 275 b, 275 c, 275 d, 275 e in the directionof the arrow F10.

The shearing device 269 performs the incision of the tape 43 to obtainthe perforation lines 267 and, at the same time, the cutting of the tape43 to obtain the sections 263.

In the shearing device of FIG. 37 the first lower knife 271 a, thesecond lower knife 271 b, the third lower knife 271 c and the fourthlower knife 271 d and the respective first upper knife 275 a, secondupper knife 275 b, third upper knife 275 c and fourth upper knife 275 dperform the incision of the tape, whereas the fifth lower knife 271 eand the fifth upper knife 275 e produce the separating cut.

If is desired to produce sections 263 comprising, for example, fourcontainers, the first upper knife 275 a is moved, by rotating theadjusting screw 281, away from the first lower knife 271 a so that, whenthe moving cross-beam 281 is moved towards the base 273 there is noincision of the tape 43 at the first lower knife 271 a and the firstupper knife 275 a.

Thus, at the subsequent advancing step of the tape 43 a region 265 ofthe tape 43, interposed between two adjacent containers 3 arrives in thearea of the fifth lower knife 271 a and the fifth upper knife 275 a,without that region 265 containing an incision, so avoiding theundesired effect of “cut-on-cut”, i.e. a cut executed in the area of aperforation line 267 previously provided in the tape 43.

That tends to prevent the production of swarf, that, in the machines ofthe Prior Art, in particular in the case of forming of aluminium films,is particularly difficult to remove owing to the extremely small sizeand the high number of discard particles produced.

In the machines of the Prior Art care is actually taken to cut, in acutting station, all of the regions interposed between adjacentcontainers and then, downstream of the cutting station, to separate fromthe tape a section of containers, such separation resulting in a cutoverlapping with one of the incisions made before.

The possibility of vertically moving the upper knives 275 a, 275 b, 275c, 275 d, 275 e permits, when it is desired to produce sections 263comprising a lower number of containers 3, the rendering non-operationalof the corresponding number of upper knives: in this manner theapparatus 1 is very versatile since it allows a rapid change of size ofthe sections 163 to be produced.

Obviously, the number of lower and upper knives with which the shearingdevice 269 is equipped may be different, and advantageously greater,than the number of lower and upper knives shown in FIG. 37.

With reference to the FIG. 50, a variant of the apparatus 1 is shown,wherein a shearing device 269 a analogous to that previously describedis associated with the knurling and coding unit 221. The knurling andcoding unit 221 comprises a pair of half-moulds with one of which thereis associated a plurality of fixed knives, whereas with the other thereis associated a plurality of adjustable knives whose position may beadjusted in the manner previously described. The fixed knives andadjustable knives are arranged to cut the tape 43 to obtain theperforation lines 267.

Downstream of the knurling and coding unit 221 cutting means is providedfor separating from the tape 43 sections 263 formed by a pre-establishednumber of knives.

As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, a tape 43 is obtained wherein a pluralityof containers 3 is achieved, grouped within sections 163 that will haveto be separated from the tape 43 by the shearing device 269 a.

Lines of perforation 267 are produced in regions 362 between adjacentcontainers 3 and intended to belong to the same carton 163.

Conversely, no perforation line 267 is provided in regions 353 betweencontainers 3 intended to belong to different sections 163, since, insuch regions, the cutting means will separate the section 163 from theremaining portion of the tape 43.

The sections 163, once separated from the tape 43, are collected incontainers 354 arranged downstream of the cutting means, and aredirected to a packaging device.

Therefore, in apparatus for packaging suppositories it is possible toform, fill and seal the containers containing the suppositories in asterile environment. The sections including containers are separatedfrom the tape while still lying in the sterile environment, from whichthe sections may then be removed, for example by operators.

Packaging of the sections may then take place in non-sterile premises,so that the operating costs can be contained.

Furthermore,providing the shearing device 269 a associated with theknurling and coding unit 221 contains the cost of the apparatus, since adedicated shearing device is not required.

As shown in FIGS. 14, 38, 39, downstream of the shearing device 269, theshearing station 261 comprises a collecting device 287 arranged forreceiving the sections 263 previously obtained from the tape 43.

The collecting device 287 comprises a pair of C-shaped guides 289arranged for receiving a section 263.

The guides 289 are moved, as indicated by the arrows F17 and F18 betweena grabbing position A, represented with continuous line in FIG. 38,wherein the guides 289 retain a section 263, and a releasing position B,represented with dashed line in FIG. 38, wherein the guides 289 deliverthe section 263 to an underlying collecting drawer 291 (see FIG. 14).The collecting device further comprises electromagnetic actuating means293 arranged for transferring the guides 289 from the grabbing positionA to the releasing position B, and vice versa.

The guides 289 are mounted in a wheel 295 rotatably driven by a motor297: thus, it is possible to deposit into the drawer 291 sections 263mutually rotated by 1800.

That permits, in the case of containers 3 having a portion substantiallyshaped like a truncated cone, such as the containers for suppositories,reduction of the space occupied by a group of superimposed sections 263,by preventing the “fanlike” effect shown in FIG. 40.

As shown in FIG. 41, during operation the guides 289 may collect a firstsection 263 a and deposit it into the drawer 291 without subjecting itto rotation. Successively, the guides 289 may collect a second section263 and deposit it into the drawer 291 after having rotated it by 180°.Still successively, the guides 289 may receive a third section 263 c andplace it into the drawer 291 without having subjected it to rotation. Byproceeding in this manner it is possible to form stacks comprising apre-established number of superimposed sections 263.

Therefore, the wheel 295 causes the guides 289 to execute a rotation of180° every alternate advancing step of the tape 43 through the shearingstation 261.

The apparatus 1 is also particularly suitable for forming bottles orphials starting from plastics film. In this case, referring to FIG. 2,the forming station 9 comprises:

-   -   a first unit 35 wherein the first film 5 and the second film 7        are subjected to a pre-heating and a welding along a peripheral        edge 47 a in order to define pre-forms 299 of the containers 3 a        to be formed;    -   a second unit 37 wherein the weld bead corresponding to the        peripheral edge 47 a of the pre-forms 299 is cooled in order to        harden. Punching of the pre-forms 301 along the peripheral edge        47 a takes place also in the station 37; such punching does not        involve the entire extension of the peripheral edge 47 a:        portions 301 of said peripheral edge 47 a actually remain fixed        to the tape 43 in order to enable transferring of the pre-forms        299 and then of the formed containers.    -   a third unit 39 wherein the first film 5 and the second film 7        are heated in order to be prepared for the subsequent forming;        and    -   a fourth unit 41 wherein pressurised air is injected into the        pre-forms 299 in order to obtain containers 3 a from the        pre-forms 299.

In particular, the apparatus may be used for producing containers 3 a ofthe type described in European Patent Application PublicationEP-A-0719630.

1. Apparatus comprising a plurality of operating units arranged forforming containers, characterised in that at least one operating unit isso mounted on a guide arrangement that it is possible to adjust thelongitudinal position of said at least one operating unit with respectto adjacent operating unit(s):
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said at least one operating unit is so mounted as aforesaid asto be adjustable along said guide arrangement independently of saidadjacent operating unit(s).
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid guide arrangement comprises a threaded rod-and-nut arrangement forenabling accurate adjustment of the position of said at least oneoperating unit.
 4. Apparatus comprising at least one operating unitarranged for operatively interacting with sheet material and for formingcontainers from said sheet material, characterised in that saidoperating unit is provided with mould portions driven translatingly by amechanical actuator for moving the mould portions towards and away fromeach other in order to clamp and release, respectively, said sheetmaterial.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said mechanicalactuator comprises a motor-driven screw engaging in an internallythreaded member.
 6. Apparatus according to claim, 5, wherein said motorcomprises a brushless motor.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, whereinsaid internally threaded member is firmly connected with a plate towhich there are fixed a first rod that controls a first supporting plateto which a first portion of said mould portions is fixed, and a secondrod that controls a second supporting plate to which a second portion ofsaid mould portions is fixed.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe first mould portion and the second mould portion are driven towardsand away from each other, by elongate members slidingly coupled with aframe of said apparatus.
 9. Apparatus comprising at least one operatingunit arranged for operatively interacting with sheet material in orderto obtain containers from said sheet material, characterised in thatsaid operating unit is provided with a mould portion connected with asupport by means of a hinge.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, whereinsaid hinge means comprises a spherical joint.
 11. Apparatus comprising aconveying arrangement for advancing sheet material, and at least oneoperating unit arranged for forming containers from said sheet material,characterised in that said conveying arrangement comprises a movablesupporting arrangement with which a grabbing arrangement for said sheetmaterial is associated.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, whereinsaid supporting arrangement extends through said at least one operatingunit.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising amotor arranged for driving said supporting arrangement withreciprocating rectilinear motion.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 11,and further comprising a guiding arrangement, fixed to a frame of saidapparatus, whereon said supporting arrangement slides.
 15. Apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein said grabbing arrangement comprises aplurality of single grabbing units.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the grabbing units comprise pneumatically driven jaws. 17.Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said grabbing arrangement isconformed so as to be suitable for being moved along said supportingarrangement in order to be placed at pre-established positions. 18.Apparatus comprising a transporting chain arranged for transportingsheet material by acting on regions near its border by an interceptingarrangement, characterised in that said intercepting arrangementcomprises a pinching arrangement.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 18,wherein said pinching arrangement is fixed to links of said transportingchain.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said pinchingarrangement comprises a pair of jaws mutually hinged and oscillatablearound an axis between a rest position, wherein said pinchingarrangement is open and not interacting with said sheet material, and anoperating position wherein said pinching arrangement is closed and grabssaid sheet material.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein afirst jaw of said pair of jaws is provided with a hole arrangement forreceiving a sharp end of a device associated with a second jaw of saidpair of jaws.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said devicecomprises a threaded dowel screwed to said second jaw.
 23. Apparatusaccording to claim 20, and further comprising a pressing arrangementserving to interact with said pair of jaws in order to bring saidpinching arrangement from said rest position to said operating position.24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said pressing arrangementcomprises a roller.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein saidtransporting chain advances said pinching arrangement inside a guidinggroove arrangement.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein betweensaid pinching arrangement and said guiding grove arrangement there isprovided a clearance.
 27. Apparatus comprising at least one operatingunit arranged for forming containers from sheet material, said at leastone operating unit comprising a deforming arrangement serving to producein said sheet material transversally extending folds, characterised inthat said apparatus further comprises a shearing unit arranged forremoving from said sheet material appendages of said sheet materialresulting from said folds after forming of said containers. 28.Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said shearing unit comprisesshearing mould portions.
 29. Apparatus comprising a receivingarrangement for receiving sheet material provided with containersobtained from deformed regions of said sheet material and mutuallyjoined by undeformed regions of said sheet material, and an inducingarrangement for inducing separation indications serving to indicate insaid undeformed regions lines of intended separation of said containers,characterised in that said inducing is conformed so as to actselectively on some of said regions and not act on the remainingregions.
 30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said inducingarrangement serves to weaken said sheet material.
 31. Apparatusaccording to claim 29, wherein said inducing arrangement comprises anincising arrangement.
 32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein saidincising arrangement comprises a knife arrangement whose condition maybe adjusted so that said knife arrangement moves between a restposition, wherein said knife means does not interfere with said sheetmaterial, and an operating position wherein said knife arrangementinterferes with said sheet material.
 33. Apparatus according to claim32, wherein said knife arrangement comprises fixed knives associatedwith moving knives, each of said moving knives cooperating with arespective fixed knife in order to produce said lines of intendedseparation.
 34. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said incisingarrangement further comprises, downstream of said knife arrangement, aseparating arrangement serving to cut said sheet material in said few ofsaid regions in order to separate from said sheet material portions ofsheet material comprising a pre-established number of said containers.35. Method comprising providing a sheet material provided withcontainers obtained from deformed regions of said sheet material andmutually joined by undeformed regions of said sheet material, andindicating in said undeformed regions lines of intended separation ofsaid containers, characterised in that said indicating comprisesselectively acting on some of said regions and not acting on theremaining regions.
 36. Method according to claim 35, wherein saidselectively acting comprises weakening said sheet material.
 37. Methodaccording to claim 35, wherein said selectively acting comprisesincising said sheet material in order to produce in said few of saidregions said lines of intended separation.
 38. Method according to claim35 and further comprising, simultaneously with said selectively acting,cutting said sheet material in said few of said regions in order toseparate from said sheet material portions of sheet material comprisinga pre-established number of said containers.
 39. Tape comprising a sheetmaterial formed so that a plurality of containers is present therein,and lines of intended separation in regions between adjacent containersof said tape to facilitate separation of said containers, characterisedin that said lines of intended separation are present only in some ofsaid regions.
 40. Tape according to claim 39, wherein said lines ofintended separation comprise incision lines.
 41. Tape according to claim40, wherein said lines of intended separation comprise perforationlines.
 42. Tape according to claim 39, wherein, in said tape, groupseach formed by a pre-established number of regions provided with linesof intended separation follow each other, and these groups are separatedby a single region free from lines of intended separation.
 43. Apparatuscomprising at least one operating unit arranged for forming containersfrom sheet material, and a cutting arrangement serving to separate fromsaid sheet material sections of said sheet material comprising apre-established number of said containers, characterised in that theapparatus further comprises a collecting arrangement serving to collectsaid sections in order to constitute stacks comprising a pre-establishednumber of said sections.
 44. Apparatus according to claim 43, whereinsaid collecting arrangement comprises a rotating arrangement serving torotate some of said sections around respective longitudinal axes. 45.Apparatus comprising at least one operating unit arranged for formingcontainers from sheet material, said at least one operating unitcomprising a deforming arrangement serving to produce, in said sheetmaterial, transversely extending folds, characterised in that theapparatus further comprises an actuating arrangement for actuating saiddeforming arrangements independently one from the other.
 46. Apparatusaccording to claim 45, wherein said actuating arrangement comprises apneumatic actuator arrangement.
 47. Apparatus according to claim 45, andfurther comprising a position referencing arrangement serving to adjustan operating stroke of at least one of said deforming arrangements. 48.Apparatus comprising a plurality of operating units arranged for formingfilled containers from sheet material advanced along a path, saidoperating units including a filling unit including a filler displaceablebetween an in-line position in which said filler serves to deliver fluidproduct to said containers and an off-line position in which said fillerserves to deliver such fluid product to at least one check container.49. Apparatus according to claim 48, and further comprising a bracketfor supporting said check container in a ready-to-fill condition.
 50. Amethod comprising forming containers from sheet material, operating afiller in an in-line position to deliver fluid product to saidcontainers, displacing said filler to an off-line position, andoperating said filler in said off-line position to deliver such fluidproduct to at least one check container. 51-52. (canceled)